Myers-Insole Local Learning Community Interest Company

News

Saturday 29th September – As part of Bristol’s Docks Heritage Weekend, Bristol Ferries will be playing the fascinating stories collected throughout the Heritage Lottery and Quartet funded Washing in the Well project.

On Ferryboat Brigantia, throughout the weekend, you will be able to listen to recordings from Washing in the Well, exploring the fascinating history of Jacob’s Wells Baths, intimately connected with the docks as many people swam in them!

The Victorian baths were built at a time when very few people were fortunate enough to have running water in their households, a time when locals didn’t appreciate the risks they were taking swimming in the dirty docks, a time when the whole family would have to take turns washing in a tin bath, in ever murkier water. Some of these experiences continued into the 20th century within living memory.

Audio recordings can be heard through a set of headphones on the boat, and accompanied by a booklet about the project.

The stories collected throughout the Heritage Lottery and Quartet funded Washing in the Well community activities have now been added to our project page and the accompanying booklets will be available for free at the Harbour Festival event at the Baths, Saturday 21st July, 12-3pm.